JUST FINE THE WAY THEY ARE From Dirt Roads to Rail Roads to Interstates

Wooldridge provides a whirlwind snapshot of the turning points of American travel—from the 1805 origins of the National Road through the invention of the steam locomotive and the Model T to the 1950s expansion of the Interstate Highway System and more, up to current times. Along the way, there are always moments when a disgruntled someone mutters that things are “just fine the way they are.” Jonathan Hogan is a folksy narrator who pulls the listener easily into his confidence. He relishes exclamations such as the animated “Hogwash!” from a farmer who sees no need for anything other than dirt roads. Hogan is liberal with his use of pause and emphasis as he shares the changing viewpoints of changing times. A.R. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2012]